prudenceb

I love watching ducks…flotillas of moms, dads and ducklings - surfing and rockgardening along the coastline.  They all make it look so easy!

Sorry, taken way too many photos to choose a few favorites!  Fun to see others' though.

10 minutes ago, BethS said:

Just double checking, is this where we are meeting? https://marinas.com/map?lat=42.38164976659715&lon=-71.05732590248749&zoom=14&markers=marina,harbor,anchorage,inlet,bridge,lock,lighthouse,ferry,landmark&style=dockwa/cja1gtn25aemq2rt24d01c57w&pin_id=ryc8lx

Yes.

If it's not too late…given that Rob has canceled  New  Years Day Paddle, I've decided to just open Friday paddle to whoever wants to come.  A few things to be aware of:

1) We are launching from Little Mystic Access Area launch in Charlestown at 10 on the button.

2) We're having a pre-launch briefing at 9:45 (yup, on the button).

3) Given the size of the group, we will not be paddling as either one group or formal pods - although we may all end up being more or less together all day.  At the briefing we'll talk about how we'll manage our mob!

No need to post if you're coming or not…  Just be there!

See you tomorrow!

Prudence

Launch address for gps is Little Mystic Access Area, 217-267 Terminal St Charlestown.  (Google maps has taken me to the projects across the Little Mystic River when I plugged in Little Mystic Boat Launch!)

Please note: Friday New Years Eve Day paddle is now closed to further signups.

Prudence

OK, we’re at 15 people.   With a group this large, we may have to split in two - faster paddlers who want to go farther and a group that mostly want to poke along and enjoy the city.  Or maybe we’ll just be one long group strung out along the waterfront!

We can discuss at launch..,but one thing is certain:  we will launch at 10:00 on the button.  Meaning being all ready by 9:45 so we can discuss options for the day!

Looking forward!

Prudence

TRIP IS NOW OPEN TO ALL NSPN MEMBERS

Join the gang ringing out this difficult year with a city paddle on New Year's Eve Day.  This is a splinter group from the originally posted New Years Day paddle (which is still going forward:as planned.). The weather looks a bit nicer on Friday (sunny and 40’s).  We will launch from the Little Mystic Boat Ramp in Charlestown (see previous thread for the image David Mercer posted of the launch site).  We plan to launch at 10:00 on the button!  Some people have to work that evening so folks should arrive early enough to be ready to hit the water then.  This won't be a mileage paddle.  We'll cozy up to pedestrian walkways as much as we can to enjoy the the beautiful historic and newer waterfront.  We will be off water by 3:00 at the latest.

Please post interest here.  We won't hold you to it, just want to get a sense of numbers.  I may cap at 12.  That leaves plenty of folks who initially expressed New Years paddle interest to stick with the original plan.

Prudence

Several of us were out today and would like to paddle on Friday bc forecast is for sunny and warm day.  I will make a new posting for this!

Have fun,  New Years Day people!

Prudence

That is really wonderful, Andy!  My recommendation (and I speak as one with a houseful of art):  go to a GOOD picture framing place and get it properly framed!  It deserves it!

Prudence

Yes!  Weather permitting, my vote would be for a Boston Inner Harbor paddle, launching from Charlestown.  A few of us did this last year and it was a terrific day.  It was fun chatting with folks walking celebrating the new year along the Harbor Walk.  The launch has abundant parking and a super-easy all-tide ramp with a short carry.  And for all of you north shore and more northerly types who are spoiled by quick access to the ocean, give us city folks a break for a change and save US the long drive!

Prudence

18 minutes ago, Nick1979 said:

No takers for the two remaining skirts - FOR FREE? Those go to the trash tomorrow.... I need to clear stuff from my home.

Don't throw 'em out, Nick!  There must be someone at NSPN who would happily take free sprayskirt!!

I knew that he had  serious heart issues several years ago with a rehab stay, but am very sad to hear that they have apparently come back with a roar.

I hope someone will take and post lots of photos for those of us housebound and wishing very much that we could be there!  Have a great day!

1 hour ago, kate said:

Yours obviously get harder use. Mine are put away in the winter in favor of skis. I recommend this drysuit-saving strategy!

You wouldn't recommend it if you'd ever seen me try to ski ?!

I have TWO brand new custom top of the line replacement drysuits!  My ”new" drysuit (which was itself a replacement suit!) delaminated after only two years, so I had to wear my eight year old backup suit for Iceland exped.  I sent that one in when I got back and after the replacement suit had finally arrived…and, yup, it had bitten the dust, too.  So my second new suit just arrived yesterday.  Unlike Kate, who thinks she'll be set for life, I think I'm good for the next three years or so ?.

Oh how I wish!!  Have a wonderful day!

Oh how I wish I could join you, but alas….?…

Looking forward to trip report from any intrepid paddler who heads out into the diminishing storm today.  NOAA says seas off Halibut Point are supposed to be about 20 feet.  So please be sure to take good photos while you're out there… Go Pro will do as well.

Prudence

46 minutes ago, Dan Foster said:

Tell the story! It's important that we're working with the proper set of assumptions about what these adorable little varmints can and can't do. (And I hope we get bear bag and "food in the tent" stories as well, in their proper threads, so we can weigh those options as well). Would also be interested in hearing from the Alaska/Canada/Greenland paddlers about food storage and safety in polar/panda/grizzly country.

Edit: this (link below) might be the raccoon gnawing incident in question. Perhaps they can also gnaw through car tires.

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED - NSPN Annual MITA Cleanup at Bangs and Crow October 11-13, 2013 - Trip Reports - NSPN Message Board

You got it!  They could probably gnaw through car tires, but at least in our case, they left the tires to ?young lads with nice sharp knives…

In Alaska, bear hangs absolutely necessary.

in Greenland, our only concern was that the polar bears would want to eat US, not our food.  Thus the need to be on guard in shifts all night, ready to alert our guide, who slept with shotgun close at hand.

I have seen evidence of raccoons attempting to gnaw through rubber hatches and doing a fairly effective job of it.  They have teeth as well as hands.

53 minutes ago, Dan Foster said:

I'd plan the safety for these events around the assumption that some/all of the following will eventually happen:

 - someone will get a disabling leg cramp at the worst possible place in the swim.

 - a swimmer will fall behind or the pod won't quickly notice a swimmer in distress.

 - someone on shore but outside of voice distance will see people in the water and wonder whether to call 911.

 - someone will get knocked down by a wave or dashed against the rocks and get cut up by the barnacles.

 

So the safety plan might involve:

 - a chase/escort kayak alongside the swim pod with a VHF on channel 16, perhaps with a Diver Down or swim flag to make it obvious that the swimmers are OK.

  - a heads-up to the local harbormaster.

 - a very strict buddy system in the water. (SwimRun teammates are permanently connected by a short tether for the entire run/swim event)

 - a few swim buoys or inflated dry bags towed behind the swimmers for immediate floatation if someone needs a break.

 - head-to-toe neoprene for abrasion protection, buoyancy, and warmth. Mandatory helmets? PFDs on or off?

 - extra first aid supplies, especially for treating abrasions, hypothermia, and drysuit punctures.

 - lots of cameras, because the photos will be priceless! Can't wait to do this!

Chase kayak and photos for me!!

5 hours ago, rfolster said:

I won’t disparage Brian’s or anyone else’s gear modifications, but I would recommend that you consider holding off on permanent modifications until you are familiar with how the equipment performs for YOU and how YOU might want to modify it.  I have done several modifications to mine that others might question, but they work for me.  I have one modification that I did early on because someone I looked up to suggested it, and have regretted it ever since.  The more “undoable” a modification, the more you need to decide if it is the right decision.  Just some food for thought.

It would be interesting to know what modifications you did and why they did or did not work for you…

39 minutes ago, mhabich said:

It does have to be tight, but there's a limit.  If you can't breathe or feel your blood supply cut off (no, not kidding), that's too tight.  I wear a small drysuit, which comes with small neck and wrist gaskets.  I have them all changed to large gaskets, which are supplied on medium and larger suits (for men; women may vary).  I still have to trim the neck gasket.  I do it with sharp scissors, use magnifying glasses, and am verrry careful.  You can't trim wrist gaskets, so Kokatat says.

True that!

Also, if you've never worn a dry suit before, the neck will feel tight, even when it's actually fine.  Gotta get used to something that has to be tight enough to keep water out.